St Nilus

Extract

[According to the traditional legend, based on the Narrationes de caede Manachorum (J. P. Migne, Patrologia Graeca lxxix, col. 583-694) St Nilus was the descendant of a noble family of Constantinople and eparch of that city under Theodosius the Great (379-395 A.D.). In his later years he left his wife and daughter and, together with his son, became a monk on Mount Sinai. When the community was attacked by hordes of barbarians he escaped, and, after many adventures, was reunited to his son, who had been taken prisoner.

But since the Narrationes have been proved spurious this story is no longer accepted. Moreover, the large collection of his Letters (Ibid. col. 81-581) show him as an experienced Superior and Novice Master of a monastery at Ancyra in Galatia, which he seems to bave entered c. 390. He was probably a personal disciple of St John Chrysostom, whose sufferings he followed with deep sympathy. He died c. 430.—H. C. Graef.]